Wastewater-based surveillance of hepatitis A virus across municipalities and neighbourhoods in Alberta, Canada

R. Benson Weyant; Aito Ueno; Barbara J. Waddell; Jangwoo Lee; Tulika Bhardwaj; Nicole Acosta; Kevin Xiang; Shahrzad Gholizadeh Sarabi; Stefania Bertazzon; Aidan Bender; Gail Visser; Janine McCalder; Chloe Papparis; Maria Bautista Chavarriaga; Rhonda G. Clark; Kevin Fonseca; Jamie Borlang; Emma Lee; Mark Swain; Carla S. Coffin; Bonita Lee; Xiaoli Pang; Jason Cabaj; Christine L O'Grady; John M. Conly; Casey R. J. Hubert; Michael D Parkins

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181421

Key Points

The aim is to assess the feasibility of wastewater-based surveillance for hepatitis A virus.
Analyzed wastewater samples from various municipalities and neighborhoods in Alberta.
Correlated detection of hepatitis A virus with socioeconomic data and population metrics.
Compared wastewater data with clinical disease reports to evaluate undiagnosed infections.
Hepatitis A virus was detected in wastewater samples despite low clinical prevalence.
Strong correlation found between wastewater data and socioeconomic factors, particularly immigration.
Identified a minimal burden of undiagnosed hepatitis A infections in the studied areas.

Implication

Wastewater-based surveillance detects hepatitis A virus in Alberta, indicating potential as a public health tool.

Abstract

HAV was detectable in wastewater of both municipalities and neighbourhoods within a low prevalence setting. Wastewater HAV was associated with population metrics and socioeconomic factors, including immigration. WBS data correlated strongly with clinical disease revealing a minimal burden of undiagnosed infections. This demonstrates the feasibility of HAV WBS and its potential as a public health tool in non-endemic settings.

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Cite This Study

Weyant et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/699010382ccff479cfe56cd5 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181421

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Wastewater-based surveillance of hepatitis A virus across municipalities and neighbourhoods in Alberta, Canada

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Wastewater-based surveillance of hepatitis A virus across municipalities and neighbourhoods in Alberta, Canada

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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